Neal Black, Texas Blues Rock guitarist/vocalist has spent the last 30 years electrifying audiences around the world with his fusion of Blues, rock, Jazz, Country...Referred to by one critic as "The Master of high voltage Texas Boogie"
Rolling Stone Music Criticsgave 4 star reviews to Neal Black's first 2 releases, andJohn Swenson(music journalist for "The New York Free Press") wrote "Neal Black is one of the most important Blues songwriters /performers on the scene today".
Neal Black has recorded 7 cd's forDixiefrog records(Europe),Neal Black & The Healers(1993),Black Power(1995),Gone Back to Texas(2000),Dream are for Losers(2003),Let’s Have a Blues Party(2004), Handful of Rain(2007) that was Number 1 on the France Blues Radio Airplay Charts and the lastSometimes the Truth(2011).
NEAL BLACK has been withDixiefrogrecords for 16 years (longer than any other Artist on the Label). In the U.S.A his records are available on theFlying Fish/Deluge label, Allegro distribution, andHarmonia Mundi distribution.
He is also featured on Polygram Records CompilationBlues Storywhere he appears on 4 Volumes of the Compilation series with legendary Blues artists like;Muddy Waters, Freddy King, Roy Buchanan, Chuck Berryand others..
In 2005 Neal Black was nominated in France /Europe for theThe Trophee du Bluesas "Best Modern Electric Blues Guitarist"
Neal Black's guitarist credits include performances on stage or in the studio with Blues/Rock legends like: Jimmy Dawkins, Lucky Peterson, Johnnie Johnson, The Chambers Brothers, Papa John Creach, Chuck Berry, John Sebastian (Ex-Doors, Lovin Spoonful), Dan Baird (Ex-Georgia Sattelites), Julian Vaughan (Ex-BB King, Albert King) Gerardo Velez (Ex-Jimi Hendrix), Gib Wharton (Ex-Van Morrison, Cassandra Wilson) Harvey Brooks (Ex-Bob Dylan), Jon Paris (Ex-Johnny Winter), James Wormworth (Ex-Donald Fagen, Johnny Copeland), Tim Tindall (Ex-Bill Perry, Richie Havens), Jose Fors & Forseps (Legendary Mexican Artist/Musician), Alabama Slim, Fred Chapellier (France's Number One Blues Guitarist) Billy Price (Vocalist For Roy Buchanan), and others..
Neal Black has performed in 21 countries at major festivals/venues including:Montreal International Jazz fest(Canada),Woodstock 20th anniversari(New York),Guadalajara Blues(Mexico),New Morning(Paris,France),Antone's(Texas),Montreux Jazz(Switzerland),River Blues Fest(Philadelphia),Bragdoya Blues(Norway),Lonestar Roadhouse(N.Y.C),Puistoblues(Finland),Castlebar Blues(Ireland),New OrleansMusic Fest(Germany),Cahors Blues Fest(France),Isola Liri Blues Fest(Italy),Gastroblues Fest(Hungary),Hell Blues Fest(Norway) and many others...
In the 1980's Neal Black was a regular on the Texas Blues Scene opening shows forStevie Ray Vaughan, Albert King, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Omar & The Howlers, Johnny Copeland, George Thorogood, Leon Russell, Paul Butterfield, Lou Ann Barton, Rick Derringer, Lonnie Mack, Sir Douglas Quintet, Savoy Brown, The Nighthawks, and many, many others.
Also during this period he studied music at The Southwest Guitar Conservatory under Jazz greats likeBarney Kessel, Lenny Breau, Herb Ellis e Jacky King.
In the 1990's he moved to New York City where quickly gained a reputation as a“Top Guitarist/ Performer / Songwriter”, he was a regular not only with his own project "The Healers" but also was seen at many a late night Jam Session playing with Popa Chubby, Joan Osborne, The Holmes Brothers etc ..
In 2000, he headed to Mexico, where spent almost 3 years touring the "Hard Rock Cafe" circuit and performing Blues festivals there.
During his time in Mexico, Neal recorded the Critically acclaimedDreams are not for losers.
He was also a Professor of music at Pan American University and collaborated often on stage/Studio with Legendary Mexican/Cuban Artist & Musician,Jose Fors & his Band Forseps...
2004-2012, Neal is currently living in the south of France, touring regularly throughout Europe with his band "Neal Black & The Healers" and working as a Producer/Songwriter /Guitarist for projects with other Artists including:Blues Conspiracy, Fred Chapellier, Leadfoot Rivet, Nico Wayne Toussaint , Mason Casey, Drinkhouse Preachers, Randy H.
2011, Neal Black'slatest releaseSometimes the Truthconfirms the talent of a leading blues songwriter.Sometimes the Truthis a milestone in the career of this San Antonio, Texas, singer/guitarist. Part of this set was recorded in the New York studio of Neal's good friendPopa Chubby(who makes noted vocal appearances on three tracks and plays guitar on five), while the rest was cut in Europe with a little help from notedFrenchies Nico "Wayne" ToussaintandFred Chapellier.
2014, With the new albumBefore Daylight(celebrating 20 years of collaboration with his French label Dixiefrog) Neal Black once again defies the stereotypical expectations of being a Texas Guitar Slinger.
Neal Black is one the most important American artists on the Blues scene today....His music is rooted in Texas tradition, but Neal is no imitator, he is an innovator. A powerful performer, a gifted songwriter, and a transcendental guitarist. Neal Black is one of the hottest talents to emerge from Texas in over a decade...
John Swenson
official website:
About him:
"NEAL BLACK, from San Antonio, Texas is one the most important American artists on the Blues scene today....His music is rooted in Texas tradition, but NEAL BLACK is no imitator, He is an innovator. A powerful performer,a gifted songwriter, and a transcendental guitarist .NEAL BLACK is one of the hottest talents to emerge from Texas in over adecade..."
John Swenson,Rolling Stone Magazine
“Since the deaths of Screamin' Jay Hawkins and John Campbell, Neal Black has been the King of the Voodoo Blues...Black's incendiary guitar work place him among the most powerful straddlers of blues and rock going – seat him alongside Ronnie Earl and Johnny Winter.”
Jim Trageser, Music Journalist - Turbula,San Diego, California
"Neal Black is a refreshing change as he chops and channels the standard Blues Rock format into a souped up Hendrix meets Johnny Winter. As a vocalist Black sounds like a white Howling Wolf or a black Tom Waits“
Ron Young,San Antonio Light, Texas
“Stevie Ray's demise brings a battalion of guitarists reaching for the Grail.Texas fretmaster Neal Black is one of the best we've heard in a while .Neal Black racks so many hairpins into his debut you'd swear the furiesof hell were on his trail“
Ted Drozdowski,Pulse Magazine & Boston Phoenix, New York / Boston
"Texas Guitarist ,Neal Black is New York City's best kept secret andpossibly one of the greatest “unknown Blues Rock guitarists“ in theU.S.A.. Black plays with enough emotion to make you cry and rocks hardenough to make the ceiling collapse around the sweat soaked audience,lucky enough to catch his act live”
Frank Feitcher,Sound Gazette, Pennsylvania
“Neal Black has a voice of 100 miles of back country roads and a guitaras desperate as a cornered outlaw“
Andy Glass, The Music Paper, New York
"With vocals smooth as gravel in a meat grinder and bad-to-the-boneguitar this isn't for weak hearts. If you like your boogie 'n' blues raw andback-alley, you'll wear this one out !!"
Easyriders Magazine
"Cradle of the blues, the U.S. has a never failing reserve of talented artists.They come out of nowhere and their first hit is usually a masterpiece.For example, Neal Black's new release : IT'S A MUST!"
Andre Brodski,Guitar world Magazine, France